Image capture apparatus and method of providing images

ABSTRACT

A method of providing an image of an image capture apparatus including receiving a first input instructing the image capture apparatus to photograph a sequence of images, photographing the sequence of images, in response to receiving the first input, storing, by a control unit of the image capture apparatus, the sequence of images in a memory of the image capture apparatus, receiving a second input, and providing a plurality of images from among the sequence of images, in response to receiving the second input.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser.No. 12/946,408, filed on Nov. 15, 2010, in the U.S. Patent and TrademarkOffice, which claims priority to Korean Patent Application No.10-2009-0109545, which was filed in the Korean Intellectual PropertyOffice, on Nov. 13, 2009, and Korean Patent Application No.10-2010-0110959, which was filed in the Korean Intellectual PropertyOffice, on Nov. 9, 2010, the disclosures of which are incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to remotely controlling acamera, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus for providingan image in a camera or a remote controller of a camera.

2. Description of the Related Art

A digital camera is a device for converting a still image or a movingimage to digital signals and storing the digital signals in a storagemedium, such as a memory card. An image of an object captured via a lensis converted to electric signals by a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) or aComplementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS). The electric signals areconverted to digital signals by an Analog-to-Digital (ND) converter, andthe digital signals are stored in a memory after correction andcompression. The stored digital signals are transmitted to a PersonalComputer (PC) or a recording medium via any of various interfaces.Accordingly, a digital image is formed.

An object is photographed by using a digital camera by directing a lensof the digital camera toward the object, focusing the digital camera tocapture an optimal image, and triggering a shutter. The series ofoperations is applicable when a person operating a digital camera and aperson to be photographed are different people. When a person operatinga digital camera and another person shall be photographed together, atimer function of a digital camera is generally used. However, it isdifficult to obtain a desired angle and focus by using a timer function,and thus it is difficult to obtain a clear image. Therefore, a remotecontroller for remotely controlling a digital camera is used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides a method and an apparatusfor providing an image in a camera or a remote controller of a camera toacquire a captured image with no time delay.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a method of providingan image includes transmitting an image capture start signal to acamera; transmitting an image capture end signal to the camera; andreceiving an image captured at a time which is a predetermined period oftime prior to a time at which the image capture end signal is received.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method ofproviding an image includes receiving an image capture start signal froma remote controller of the camera; successively capturing images afterthe image capture start signal is received;

receiving an image capture end signal from the remote controller; andselecting an image captured at a time which is a predetermined period oftime prior to a time at which the image capture end signal is received.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method ofproviding an image includes transmitting first image capture signal to acamera; transmitting second image capture signal to the camera; andreceiving a JPEG image captured at a time which is a predeterminedperiod of time prior to a time at which the successive image capture endsignal is received.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method oftransmitting an image includes receiving first image capture signal froma remote controller of a camera; encoding an image displayed on thecamera by using a motion JPEG encoding method and transmitting theencoded image to the remote controller; receiving second image capturesignal from the remote controller; and selecting a JPEG image capturedat a time which is a predetermined period of time prior to a time atwhich the second image capture signal is received.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method ofproviding an image includes transmitting a motion picture capture startsignal to a camera; receiving a real time stream of a motion picturecaptured by the camera; transmitting a still image capture signal to thecamera; and receiving an image file generated by converting a framecorresponding to a time which is a predetermined period of time prior toa time, at which the still image capture signal is received, extractedfrom the captured motion picture.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method oftransmitting an image includes receiving a motion picture capture startsignal from a remote controller; capturing a motion picture; streamingthe captured motion picture to the remote controller in real time;receiving a still image capture signal from the remote controller; andextracting a frame corresponding to a time which is a predeterminedperiod of time prior to a time, at which the still image capture signalis received, from the captured motion picture and converting the frameto an image file.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a remotecontroller of a camera includes a transmitting unit, which transmits animage capture start signal to a camera, and then transmits an imagecapture end signal to the camera; and a receiving unit, which receivesan image captured at a time a predetermined period of time prior to atime at which the image capture end signal is received.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a camera includesa receiving unit, which receives an image capture start signal and animage capture end signal from a remote controller of the camera; animage capturing unit, which successively captures images after the imagecapture start signal is received until the image capture end signal isreceived; and a control unit, which selects an image captured at a timewhich is a predetermined period of time prior to a time at which theimage capture end signal is received.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a remotecontroller of a camera, the remote controller includes a transmittingunit, which transmits a first image capture signal to the camera andtransmits a second image capture signal to the camera; receiving a JPEGimage captured at a time which is a predetermined period of time priorto a time at which the second image capture signal is received.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a camera includesa receiving unit, which receives a first image capture signal and asecond image capture signal from a remote controller of a camera; and acontrol unit, which encodes an image displayed on the camera by using amotion JPEG encoding method and transmitting the encoded image to theremote controller and, when a second image capture signal is receivedfrom the remote controller, selects a JPEG image captured at a timewhich is a predetermined period of time prior to a time at which thesecond image capture signal is received.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a remotecontroller of a camera, the remote controller includes a transmittingunit, which transmits a motion picture capture start signal to a camera;and a receiving unit, which receives a real time stream of a motionpicture captured by the camera and receives an image file generated byconverting a frame corresponding to a time which is a predeterminedperiod of time prior to a time, at which the still image capture signalis received, extracted from the captured motion picture.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a camera includesa receiving unit, which receives a motion picture capture start signaland a still image capture signal from a remote controller of the camera;an image capturing unit, which captures a motion picture when the motionpicture capture start signal is received from the remote controller; acontrol unit, which, when the still image capture signal is received,extracts a frame corresponding to a time which is a predetermined periodof time prior to a time, at which the still image capture signal isreceived, from the captured motion picture and converts the frame to animage file.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the present inventionwill become more apparent, by describing in detail embodiments thereof,with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIGS. 1A through 1E are diagrams showing examples of methods of remotelycontrolling a camera, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a method of remotely controlling a camera,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of screen images displayed on thecamera and the remote controller.

FIGS. 4A through 4D are diagrams showing examples of methods of remotelycontrolling a camera, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a method of remotely controlling a camera,according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a method of remotely controlling a camera,according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a camera 720 and a remote controller 710 ofthe camera, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described withreference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description,the same elements will be designated by the same reference numeralsalthough they are shown in different drawings. Further, in the followingdescription of the present invention, a detailed description of knownfunctions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted for thesake of clarity and conciseness.

FIGS. 1A through 1E are diagrams showing methods of remotely controllinga camera, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1A, a camera 110 and a mobile device 120, which is aremote controller of the camera 110, are connected to each other via apredetermined wired or wireless communication network, such as Wi-Fi.Referring to FIG. 1B, an image 111, which is formed of electric signalsconverted from a light input via a lens of the camera 110, is displayedon a display unit of the camera 110. Referring to FIG. 1C, when themobile device 120 executes an application for remotely controlling thecamera 110, a screen image displayed on the camera 110 is streamed toand is displayed on a display unit of the mobile device 120 in realtime. However, due to a hardware difference, such as a differencebetween a resolution of the display unit of the camera 110 and aresolution of the display unit of the mobile device 120, screen imagesdisplayed on each of the display units may not be identical to eachother. In FIG. 1C, a screen image 121 displayed on the display unit ofthe mobile device 120 is smaller than a screen image 111 displayed onthe display unit of the camera 110. In other words, the screen image 121displayed on the display unit of the mobile device 120 is partially cutas compared to the screen image 111 displayed on the display unit of thecamera 110. Referring to FIG. 1D, the layout of the screen image 122 maybe corrected by a zoom function with respect to a screen image 122displayed on the display unit of the mobile device 120. The size of thescreen image 122 may be adjusted by using the zoom function. In FIG. 1D,the screen image 122 displayed on the display unit of the mobile device120 becomes identical to the screen image 111 displayed on the displayunit of the camera 110 by using the zoom function. Here, a user mayremote-photograph an object by using a predetermined button of themobile device 120. An image captured by the camera 110 is received bythe mobile device 120, and the image is displayed. A user of the mobiledevice 120 may either store or delete the received image. Referring toFIG. 1E, when a received image is displayed on the mobile device 120, ifa user pushes a predetermined button for sharing the image, an addressbook stored in the mobile device 120 is displayed on a display screen123 of the mobile device 120. Names and e-mail addresses of people isincluded in the address book. Next, when the user selects addresses ofpeople to send the image, the mobile device 120 transmits the receivedimage to the selected addresses.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a method of remotely controlling a camera,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In step 210, the camera displays an image of an object on a display unitvia a live-view feature. The live-view feature refers to a function ofdisplaying an image input via a lens on a display unit, e.g., an LCDwindow. The camera encodes the screen image displayed on the displayunit by using a predetermined encoding method, and then streams theencoded screen image to a remote controller in real time. The remotecontroller decodes the screen image, which is streamed in real time, byusing a predetermined decoding method, and then displays the decodedscreen image on a display unit. In this case, a time delay occurs, dueto the encoding operation in the camera, transmission from the camera tothe remote controller, and the decoding operation in the remotecontroller. Therefore, a screen image displayed on the camera and ascreen image displayed on the remote controller are not exactly thesame. In other words, a screen image displayed on the remote controllerbecomes a past screen image with respect to a screen image displayed onthe camera, due to a sum of the time delays stated above. For example,if a user captures an image based on a screen image displayed on theremote controller, the captured image corresponds to a screen image atime displayed a time delay after the screen image viewed by the user.In this case, a user may not be able to acquire an image of a desiredscreen image. Detailed description thereof will be given below withreference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of screen images displayed on thecamera and the remote controller.

Referring to FIG. 3, in step 210, an image of a current object 310 inputvia a lens of a camera 320 is displayed. The camera 320 streams adisplayed screen image 321 to a remote controller, e.g., a mobile device330, in real time. In this case, the camera 320 encodes the displayedscreen image 321 by using a predetermined encoding method and transmitsthe encoded screen image 321, whereas the mobile device 330 decodesreceived stream signals by using a predetermined decoding method anddisplays the decoded stream signals. Here, a time delay occurs, due tothe encoding operation, the transmission, and the decoding operation.Therefore, a screen image 331 displayed on the mobile device 330 becomesa past screen image with respect to the screen image 321 displayed onthe camera 320.

In step 220, if a user pushes an image capture button of the remotecontroller while the user is viewing a screen image displayed on theremote controller, the remote controller transmits a successive imagecapture start signal to the camera.

In step 230, when the camera receives the successive image capture startsignal from the remote controller, the camera successively capturesimages at a predetermined interval. The successive image capture is afunction of successively capturing images when a shutter button ispushed. A speed of successively capturing images may vary according toperformance of the camera. According to an embodiment of the presentinvention, a time interval for successively capturing images may besmaller than a sum of time delays. Successively captured imagesrespectively include information regarding time points at which theimages are captured. The camera stores at least one of successivelycaptured image in a predetermined storage unit of the camera.

In step 240, the remote controller transmits a successive image captureend signal to the camera. According to an embodiment of the presentinvention, when a user pushes a shutter button of the remote controller,the remote controller generates a successive image capture start signal.When a user holds and releases the shutter button of the remotecontroller, the remote controller generates a successive image captureend signal and transmits the successive image capture end signal to thecamera.

In step 250, the camera, which has received the successive image captureend signal, terminates the operation of successively capturing imagesand selects a predetermined image to be stored from among successivelycaptured images. The camera selects an image captured at a time, whichis calculated by subtracting a sum of time delays from a time at whichthe camera has received the successive image capture end signal. In thiscase, an image identical to a screen image desired by a user may beacquired. If no image is captured at a desired time, which is calculatedby subtracting a sum of time delays from a time at which the camera hasreceived the successive image capture end signal, an image captured at anearest time is selected as an image to be stored. Furthermore, thecamera may select a plurality of images captured within a predeterminedtime interval from the desired time as images to be stored. The cameramay store all of successively captured images, so that a user may selectimages to store. A sum of time delays corresponds to a sum of a periodof time elapsed for encoding operation in the camera, a period of timeelapsed for streaming a screen image from the camera to the remotecontroller, a period of time elapsed for decoding operation in theremote controller, and a period of time elapsed for transmitting asignal from the remote controller to the camera.

In step 260, the camera transmits a selected image to the remotecontroller. The camera may transmit a selected image via e-mail based oninformation in an address book stored in the camera. Furthermore, sincethe camera includes a face detection/recognition module, if a capturedimage is a portrait picture, information of a person photographed in thecaptured image may be detected. In this case, the camera may transmit aselected image to a person corresponding to the information detected inthe image via e-mail based on information in the address book. If noaddress is stored in the camera, the camera may request addressinformation to the remote controller (e.g., a mobile device), receivethe address information, and transmit the selected image via e-mailbased on the address information.

Furthermore, if the remote controller receives a selected image, theremote controller may also transmit the received image via e-mail basedon an address in an address book stored in the remote controller. If theremote controller includes a face detection/recognition module, theremote controller may transmit the received image to a personcorresponding to the information detected in the image as describedabove via e-mail based on the address information in the address book.

The above method will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4Athrough 4D. FIGS. 4A through 4D are diagrams showing examples of methodsof remotely controlling a camera, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

In FIG. 4A, an image 411 of an object is displayed on the camera 410.Furthermore, the camera 410 streams the image 411 to a remotecontroller, e.g., a mobile device 420, in real time. The image 421streamed in real time is displayed on the remote controller 420.However, the image 421 displayed on the mobile device 420 is notidentical to the image 411 displayed on the camera 410. Here, ascompared to the image 411 displayed on the camera 410, the image 421 isan image delayed by a sum of a period of time elapsed for the camera 410to encode the image 411, a period of time elapsed for the camera totransmit encoded stream signals to the mobile device 420, and a periodof time elapsed for the mobile device 420 to decode the encoded streamsignals. The image 421 displayed on the mobile device 420 shown in FIG.4A is a blank image due to time delay. In the same regard, as shown inFIG. 4B, an image 412 displayed on the camera 410 and an image 422displayed on the mobile device 420 are different from each other by asum of time delays. Compared to FIG. 4B, FIG. 4C shows an image after asum of time delays. In FIG. 4C, since a desired scene is found in animage 423 displayed on the mobile device 420, a user transmits asuccessive image capture end signal 413 to the camera 410. The camera410, which has received the successive image capture end signal, selectsan image captured prior to the time delays and transmits the selectedimage to the mobile device 420. In this case, the camera 410 transmits acaptured image corresponding to a scene image prior to the time delays,that is, an image 430 as shown in FIG. 4D to the mobile device 420.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, when asuccessive image capture start signal is received, an image currentlydisplayed on a display unit of a camera may be encoded to an image of alower resolution and the encoded image may be transmitted to a remotecontroller. In this case, the time delay, due to encoding operation inthe camera, transmission, and a decoding operation in the remotecontroller, may be reduced.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a method of remotely controlling a camera,according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In step 510, an image displayed on the camera via live-view function isstreamed in real time.

In step 520, if a user pushes an image capture button of the remotecontroller while the user is viewing a screen image displayed on theremote controller, the remote controller transmits a first image capturesignal to the camera.

In step 530, when the camera receives the first image capture signalfrom the remote controller, a method of encoding an image displayed on adisplay unit of the camera via live-view function is switched to aMotion JPEG (M-JPEG) encoding method. The M-JPEG encoding method encodeseach of frames to JPEG, and is an image compression technique developedfrom the JPEG compression method, which is a compression method for astill image. During M-JPEG compression, each of frames constituting animage is encoded to JPEG and is successively arranged to form a motionpicture. A JPEG image is stored in a temporary memory.

In step 540, the remote controller transmits a second image capturesignal to the camera.

In step 550, the camera, which has received the second image capturesignal, selects a predetermined JPEG image from among stored JPEGimages. The camera selects a JPEG image captured at a time, which iscalculated by subtracting a sum of time delays from a time at which thecamera has received the second image capture signal. A sum of timedelays corresponds to a sum of a period of time elapsed for M-JPEGencoding operation in the camera, a period of time elapsed for streamingthe encoded M-JPEG from the camera to the remote controller, a period oftime elapsed for M-JPEG decoding operation in the remote controller, anda period of time elapsed for transmitting the second image capturesignal from the remote controller to the camera.

In step 560, the camera transmits the selected JPEG image to the remotecontroller. JPEG images selected by the camera or the remote controllerare transmitted via e-mail as described above in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a method of remotely controlling a camera,according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In step 610, a remote controller transmits a motion picture capturestart signal to the camera.

In step 620, after the motion picture capture start signal is received,the camera starts capturing a motion picture. In step 630, the cameratransmits captured motion picture signals to the remote controller.

In step 640, while the camera is capturing a motion picture, the remotecontroller transmits a still image capture signal.

In step 650, the camera extracts a frame corresponding to a time whichis a predetermined period of time prior to a time, at which the stillimage capture signal is received, from the captured motion picture, thatis, a captured image sequence. In other words, a frame corresponding toa time, which is calculated by subtracting a sum of time delays from thetime at which the still image capture signal is received, is extracted.Next, the camera converts the extracted frame to an image file of apredetermined format. If there is no frame corresponding to a time,which is calculated by subtracting a sum of time delays from a time atwhich the camera has received the still image capture signal, a framecaptured at a nearest time is extracted. A sum of time delayscorresponds to a sum of a period of time elapsed for motion pictureencoding operation in the camera, a period of time elapsed fortransmitting the encoded motion picture from the camera to the remotecontroller, a period of time elapsed for motion picture decodingoperation in the remote controller, and a period of time elapsed fortransmitting a still image capture signal from the remote controller tothe camera.

In step 660, the camera transmits the converted image file to the remotecontroller. Image files converted by the camera or the remote controllerare transmitted via e-mail as described above in FIG. 2. The presentembodiment may also employ M-JPEG format for capturing motion picture,and, when of transmitting a motion picture from the camera to the remotecontroller, the motion picture may be encoded to a motion picture of alower resolution and the encoded motion picture may be transmitted tothe remote controller.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a camera 720 and a remote controller 710 ofthe camera, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the remote controller 710 includes a receiving unit711, a display unit 712, a button unit 713, a transmitting unit 714, anda storage unit 715. The camera 720 includes a display unit 721, atransmitting unit 722, a receiving unit 723, an image capturing unit724, a control unit 725, and a storage unit 726.

The receiving unit 711 of the remote controller 710 receives imagesignals, which are generated by encoding a screen image displayed on thedisplay unit 721 of the camera 720 and are streamed to the remotecontroller 710 in real time.

The remote controller 710 decodes the image signals streamed from thecamera 720 in real time at a decoding unit (not shown) and displays thedecoded image signals on the display unit 712 of the remote controller710. In this case, a time delay occurs, due to the encoding operation inthe camera 720, transmission from the camera 720 to the remotecontroller 710, and the decoding operation in the remote controller 710.Therefore, a screen image displayed on the display unit 721 of thecamera 720 and a screen image displayed on the display unit 712 of theremote controller 710 are not exactly the same. In other words, a screenimage displayed on the display unit 712 of the remote controller 710becomes a past screen image with respect to a screen image displayed onthe display unit 721 of the camera 720, due to a sum of the time delaysstated above. For example, if a user captures an image based on a screenimage displayed on the display unit 712 of the remote controller 710,the captured image corresponds to a screen image a time displayed a timedelay after the screen image viewed by the user. In this case, a usermay not be able to acquire an image of a desired screen image.

The button unit 713 generates a successive image capture start signaland a successive image capture end signal for the camera 720. Accordingto an embodiment of the present invention, the button unit 713 maygenerate a successive image capture start signal when the button unit713 is pushed, whereas the button unit 713 may generate a successiveimage capture end signal when the button unit 713 is held and released.

The transmitting unit 714 of the remote controller 710 transmits asuccessive image capture start signal and a successive image capture endsignal to the camera 720.

Furthermore, the receiving unit 711 of the remote controller 710receives an image captured at a time, which is calculated by subtractinga sum of time delays from a time at which the camera 720 has receivedthe successive image capture end signal. A sum of time delayscorresponds to a sum of a period of time elapsed for transmitting asuccessive image capture start signal and a successive image capture endsignal from the remote controller 710 to the camera 720, a period oftime elapsed for encoding operation in the camera, a period of timeelapsed for streaming a screen image from the camera to the remotecontroller, and a period of time elapsed for decoding operation in theremote controller.

The storage unit 715 of the remote controller 710 stores the receivedimage. Furthermore, the storage unit 715 may store an address book asdescribed below.

The display unit 721 of the camera 720 displays an image generated byconverting light input via a lens (not shown) of the camera 720 toelectric signals.

An encoding unit (not shown) of the camera 720 encodes the imagedisplayed on the display unit 721 of the camera 720 by using apredetermined encoding method. Next, the transmitting unit 722 of thecamera 720 streams encoded image signals to the remote controller 710 inreal time. Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention, if a successive image capture start signal is received, theencoding unit (not shown) of the camera 720 may encode an image to bestreamed in real time to a resolution lower than that of a resolution ofthe image to be streamed in real time and transmit the encoded image tothe remote controller 710. In this case, the time delay due to encodingoperation in the camera, transmission, and decoding operation in theremote controller may be reduced, due to stream signals of a lowresolution.

The camera 720 receives a successive image capture start signal or asuccessive image capture end signal from the remote controller 710.

The image capturing unit 724 starts to successive capture images whenthe successive image capture start signal is received and terminates tosuccessively capture images when the successive image capture end signalis received. The successive image capture is a function of successivelycapturing images when a shutter button is pushed. A speed ofsuccessively capturing images may vary according to performance of thecamera. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a timeinterval for successively capturing images may be smaller than a sum oftime delays. Successively captured images respectively includeinformation regarding time points at which the images are captured.

When a successive image capture end signal is received via the receivingunit 723 of the camera 720, the control unit 725 terminates theoperation of successively capturing images and selects a predeterminedimage to be stored from among successively captured images. The controlunit 725 selects an image captured at a time, which is calculated bysubtracting a sum of the time delays from a time at which the camera hasreceived the successive image capture end signal. In this case, an imageidentical to a screen image desired by a user may be acquired. If noimage is captured at a desired time, which is calculated by subtractinga sum of the time delays from a time at which the camera has receivedthe successive image capture end signal, the control unit 725 selects animage captured at a nearest time as an image to be stored. Furthermore,the control unit 725 may select a plurality of images captured within apredetermined time interval from the desired time as images to bestored. The camera may select all of successively captured images, sothat a user may select images to store. The sum of time delayscorresponds to a sum of a period of time elapsed for encoding operationin the camera 720, a period of time elapsed for streaming a screen imagefrom the camera 720 to the remote controller 710, a period of timeelapsed for decoding operation in the remote controller 710, and aperiod of time elapsed for transmitting a signal from the remotecontroller 710 to the camera 720. The storage unit 726 of the camera 720stores captured images. The transmitting unit 722 of the camera 720transmits the selected image to the remote controller 710. The controlunit 725 of the camera 720 may transmit the selected image via thetransmitting unit 722 of the camera 720 via e-mail based on informationin an address book stored in the storage unit 726 of the camera 720.

Furthermore, because the camera 720 includes a facedetection/recognition module, if a captured image is a portrait picture,the control unit 725 of the camera 720 may detect information of aperson photographed in the captured image. In this case, the controlunit 725 of the camera 720 may transmit a selected image to a personcorresponding to the information detected in the image via thetransmitting unit 722 of the camera 720 via e-mail based on the addressinformation in the address book. If no address is stored in the storageunit 726 of the camera 720, the control unit 725 of the camera 720 mayrequest address information to the remote controller 710, receive theaddress information, and transmit the selected image via e-mail based onthe address information.

Furthermore, if the remote controller 710 receives a selected image, theremote controller 710 may also transmit the received image via e-mailbased on information in an address book stored in the storage unit 715of the remote controller 710. If the remote controller 710 includes aface detection/recognition module, the remote controller 710 maytransmit the received image to a person corresponding to the informationdetected in the image as described above via e-mail based on informationin the address book.

A camera and a remote controller of the camera according to anotherembodiment of the present invention will be described below.

The receiving unit 711 of the remote controller 710 receives an image,which is generated by encoding a screen image displayed on the displayunit 721 of the camera 720 and is streamed in real time.

The remote controller 710 decodes the image streamed in real time byusing a decoding unit (not shown) and displays the decoded image on thedisplay unit 712 of the remote controller 710.

The button unit 713 generates a first image capture signal and a secondimage capture signal by using a predetermined button.

The transmitting unit 714 of the remote controller 710 transmits a firstimage capture signal and a second image capture signal to the camera720.

Furthermore, the receiving unit 711 of the remote controller 710receives a selected JPEG image from the camera 720.

The display unit 721 of the camera 720 displays an image generated byconverting light input via a lens (not shown) of the camera 720 toelectric signals.

An encoding unit (not shown) of the camera 720 encodes the imagedisplayed on the display unit 721 of the camera 720 by using apredetermined encoding method. Next, the transmitting unit 722 of thecamera 720 streams the encoded image to the remote controller 710 inreal time. If the camera 720 receives the first image capture signalfrom the remote controller 710, the encoding unit (not shown) of thecamera 720 switches a current method of encoding an image to a M-JPEGencoding method. The M-JPEG encoding method encodes each of frames toJPEG, and is an image compression technique developed from the JPEGcompression method, which is a compression method for a still image.During M-JPEG compression, each of frames constituting an image isencoded to JPEG and is successively arranged to form a motion picture. AJPEG image is stored in a temporary memory (not shown).

The receiving unit 723 of the camera 720 receives a first image capturesignal and a second image capture signal from the remote controller 710.

If the second image capture signal is received, the control unit 725selects a predetermined JPEG image from among temporarily stored JPEGimage, the predetermined JPEG image captured at a time, which iscalculated by subtracting a sum of the time delays from a time at whichthe camera has received the second image capture signal. If JPEG noimage is captured at a desired time, which is calculated by subtractinga sum of the time delays from a time at which the camera has receivedthe second image capture signal, the control unit 725 selects a JPEGimage captured at a nearest time point. The sum of time delayscorresponds to a sum of a period of time elapsed for M-JPEG encodingoperation in the camera 720, a period of time elapsed for streaming ascreen image from the camera 720 to the remote controller 710, a periodof time elapsed for M-JPEG decoding operation in the remote controller710, and a period of time elapsed for transmitting the second imagecapture signal from the remote controller 710 to the camera 720.

The transmitting unit 722 of the camera 720 transmits the selected JPEGimage to the remote controller 710. A JPEG image selected by the camera720 or the remote controller 710 is transmitted via e-mail as describedabove.

A camera and a remote controller of the camera according to anotherembodiment of the present invention will be described below.

The button unit 713 generates a motion picture capture start signal anda still image capture signal by using a predetermined button.

The transmitting unit 714 of the remote controller 710 transmits themotion picture capture start signal and the still image capture signalto the camera 720. The receiving unit 711 of the remote controller 710receives a real time stream of a captured motion picture from the camera720.

The remote controller 710 decodes the motion picture streamed in realtime by using a decoding unit (not shown) and displays the decodedmotion picture on the display unit 712 of the remote controller 710.

Furthermore, the receiving unit 711 receives an image file, which isgenerated by converting a frame corresponding to a time which is apredetermined period of time prior to a time in a captured imagesequence, from the camera 720.

If a motion picture capture start signal is received via the receivingunit 723 of the camera 720, the image capturing unit 724 of the camera720 displays an image, which is generated by converting light input viaa lens (not shown) of the camera 720 to electric signals, on the displayunit 721 of the camera 720.

An encoding unit (not shown) of the camera 720 encodes the imagedisplayed on the display unit 721 of the camera 720 by using apredetermined encoding method. Next, the transmitting unit 722 of thecamera 720 streams the encoded image to the remote controller 710 inreal time.

If the still image capture signal is received via the receiving unit 723of the camera 720, the control unit 725 extracts a frame correspondingto a time which is a predetermined period of time prior to a time, atwhich the still image capture signal is received, from the capturedmotion picture, that is, a captured image sequence. In other words, thecontrol unit 725 extracts a frame corresponding to a time, which iscalculated by subtracting a sum of time delays from the time at whichthe still image capture signal is received, and converts the extractedframe to a predetermined image file. If there is no frame correspondingto a time, which is calculated by subtracting a sum of time delays froma time at which the camera has received the still image capture signal,a frame captured at a nearest time is extracted. A sum of time delayscorresponds to a sum of a period of time elapsed for motion pictureencoding operation in the camera 720, a period of time elapsed fortransmitting the encoded motion picture from the camera 720 to theremote controller 710, a period of time elapsed for motion picturedecoding operation in the remote controller 710, and a period of timeelapsed for transmitting a still image capture signal from the remotecontroller 710 to the camera 720.

The transmitting unit 722 of the camera 720 transmits the convertedimage file to the remote controller 710. An image file converted by thecamera 720 or the remote controller 710 is transmitted via e-mail asdescribed above.

The invention can also be embodied as computer readable codes on acomputer readable recording medium. The computer readable recordingmedium is any data storage device that can store data which can bethereafter read by a computer system. Examples of the computer readablerecording medium include Read-Only Memory (ROM), Random-Access Memory(RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, optical data storagedevices, etc. The computer readable recording medium can also bedistributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computerreadable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. Also,functional programs, codes, and code segments for accomplishing thepresent invention can be easily construed by programmers skilled in theart to which the present invention pertains.

Although the present invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail maybe made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims. The preferred embodimentsshould be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by thedetailed description of the invention but by the appended claims, andall differences within the scope will be construed as being included inthe present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of providing an image of an imagecapture apparatus, the method comprising: receiving a first inputinstructing an image capturing unit of the image capture apparatus tophotograph a sequence of images; photographing the sequence of images,in response to receiving the first input; storing, by a control unit ofthe image capture apparatus, the sequence of images in a memory of theimage capture apparatus; and providing a plurality of images from amongthe sequence of images, in response to receiving a second input.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises: selecting theplurality of images from among the sequence of images, in response toreceiving the second input.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein theproviding comprises: outputting the plurality of images from among thesequence of images, in response to receiving the second input.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises: receiving aselection of a user instructing the image capture apparatus to selectthe plurality of images from among the sequence of images, in responseto receiving the second input.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein theproviding comprises: selecting the plurality of images from among thesequence of images, in response to receiving the second input; andoutputting at least one image among the plurality of images.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, wherein the outputting comprises: obtaining adestination email address; and transmitting the at least one image byemail to the destination email address.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein the providing comprises: determining a time of receiving thesecond input; and selecting the plurality of images based on the time ofreceiving the second input.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein theproviding comprises: determining a period of time prior to a time ofreceiving the second input; and selecting the plurality of images fromamong images captured during the period of time prior to the time ofreceiving the second input.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the firstinput comprises a first user input that is input at a user interface ofthe image capture apparatus.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein thesecond input comprises a second user input that is input at the userinterface of at the image capture apparatus.
 11. The method of claim 10,wherein the second user input is an input instructing the image captureapparatus to photograph a desired image.
 12. The method of claim 10,wherein the second user input is an input instructing the image captureapparatus to stop the photographing of the sequence of images.
 13. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the sequence of images is a plurality ofstill image photographs.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein theplurality of images is less than all of the sequence of images.
 15. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the plurality of images is all of thesequence of images.
 16. An image capture apparatus comprising: areceiving unit configured to receive a first input and a second input;an image capturing unit configured to photograph a sequence of images,in response to the receiving unit receiving the first input; a storageunit; and a control unit configured to store the sequence of images inthe storage unit in response to the image capturing unit photographingthe sequence of images, and provide a plurality of images from among thesequence of images in response to receiving the receiving unit receivingthe second input.
 17. The image capture apparatus of claim 16, whereinthe control unit is configured to provide the plurality of images byselecting the plurality of images from among the sequence of images, inresponse to the receiving unit receiving the second input.
 18. The imagecapture apparatus of claim 16, wherein the control unit is configured toprovide the plurality of images by outputting the plurality of imagesfrom among the sequence of images, in response to the receiving unitreceiving the second input.
 19. The image capture apparatus of claim 16,wherein the control unit is configured to provide the plurality ofimages by receiving a selection of a user instructing the image captureapparatus to select the plurality of images from among the sequence ofimages, in response to the receiving unit receiving the second input.20. The image capture apparatus of claim 16, wherein the control unit isconfigured to provide the plurality of images by selecting the pluralityof images from among the sequence of images, in response to thereceiving unit receiving the second input and outputting at least oneimage among the plurality of images.
 21. The image capture apparatus ofclaim 20, wherein the outputting comprises: obtaining a destinationemail address; and transmitting the at least one image by email to thedestination email address.
 22. The image capture apparatus of claim 16,wherein the control unit is configured to provide the plurality ofimages by determining a time of receiving the second input and selectingthe plurality of images based on the time of receiving the second input.23. The image capture apparatus of claim 16, wherein the control unit isconfigured to provide the plurality of images by determining a period oftime prior to a time of receiving the second input and selecting theplurality of images from among images captured during the period of timeprior to the time of receiving the second input.
 24. The image captureapparatus of claim 16, wherein the first input comprises a first userinput that is input at a user interface of the image capture apparatus.25. The image capture apparatus of claim 24, wherein the second inputcomprises a second user input that is input at the user interface of atthe image capture apparatus.
 26. The image capture apparatus of claim25, wherein the second user input is an input instructing the imagecapture apparatus to photograph a desired image.
 27. The image captureapparatus of claim 25, wherein the second user input is an inputinstructing the image capture apparatus to stop the photographing of thesequence of images.
 28. The image capture apparatus of claim 16, whereinthe sequence of images is a plurality of still image photographs. 29.The image capture apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of imagesis less than all of the sequence of images.
 30. The image captureapparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of images is all of thesequence of images.